Empowering Neighborhoods to Self Determination

[Kenneth Warren]

Ah yes, the gangs of the Wood, I mean neighborhoods of the Wood.

There are very excellent reasons to go micro-neighborhood, especially when the young bloods of the Wood feel that's where the action of their desires, dreams and identity is leading them.

My two cents say consider going block by block to determine such factors as duration of residency, qualities of life - harmonious or not, orderly or disorderly, owners and ownership rates, problems and problem-solving skills - knowledge, abilities and connections, levels and types of commerce and crime, level of interactions, values and attitudes toward neighbor, street, neighborhood, city.

Then one must see if patterns move to the next block.

Go block by block for about six blocks and see what you discover.

Get one thousand people in the six or so block proximity and check them out for their vision.

Early in the project we considered doing hang-time research into how each Lakefront cul de sac presents different personalities, practices and traditions.

It may well be that long term close knit homies like Jim, people who grew up here have interloped enough territory to convince themselves that by two degrees they know the city better than anyone else.

But that really doesn't matter all that much. Because the issue Dan, Steve, and Chris is raising is about their lives and view of the city, and therefore potentially smart enough to challenge the received Homie notion and nostalgia for meta neighborhood heyday imposed from the past upon young blood.

It's about time and on time. Let the work of the young bloods begin.

Chris, the answer to your question -- "Jim, why do you say that the Emerald Canyon District makes sense..." is one upon which we all must agree: Jim owns the trademark for "The Emerald Canyon."

Kenneth Warren

[Jim O'Bryan]

I'm curious as to what has changed in Birdtown in that it is now "solid".

Kate

I suppose for my view you would have to have the long range view that my old eyes bring to this discussion. Birdtown has always been a transient zone for many ethnic groups. In the early 60s and 70s there were more bars and it was not uncommon to hear a gun go off every now and then at one of the bars.

Today as I walk the streets I still see it as a wonderful little catch basin for those that first arrive in Lakewood, and sometimes America. While many of the small storefronts of butchers, grocers and bars have been changed to rentals(it would be nice to see them changed back). The area in my walks and talks seem healthy and much quieter today then the sixties.

While having breakfast at the Coffee Pot I had the pleasure of speakign with 3 couples that had all just moved to Birdtown straight out of college. They had attended different schools. One landed there, and invited the other couples to move in. Based on prices, what was around, they moved in. They loved it after 6 months and were tlaking with other friends.

While having a dinner at Mahalls and watching the area it seems alive with people coming and going. The flow is nearly the same as I remember from the past. Kids, adults elderly walking talking and laughing. Young couple walking into Mahalls for their big date on the small budget.

To me these would be enough signs of solid. But behind the scenes I know of at least two groups that are looking to turn Birdtown into an art community. Of course this will increase property values and make it different, but will retain much of it's old flavor.

I could be wrong, as I do not live there. But I love walking there delivering papers there, and talking with residents there. I would think if it was way wrong, the talk would filter to trouble not to memeories in these discussions. I like to notice the little things that are barometers of the area. people sitting on porches, walking with ipods, girls on their own. These are all indicators it is much better than it was in the 60s.

But it is only my opinion.

.

[Charyn Compeau]

..

[dl meckes]

It may well be that long term close knit homies like Jim, people who grew up here have interloped enough territory to convince themselves that by two degrees they know the city better than anyone else.

But that really doesn't matter all that much. Because the issue Dan, Steve, and Chris is raising is about their lives and view of the city, and therefore potentially smart enough to challenge the received Homie notion and nostalgia for meta neighborhood heyday imposed from the past upon young blood.

It's about time and on time. Let the work of the young bloods begin.

Kenneth Warren

The Scenic Park neighborhood up and named itself a few years ago.

Lakewood has a lot of unique features (like "named" streets), so why not more named neighborhoods? And it's still Lakewood.

But the larger issue, as Ken is addressing, is "new" Lakewood homies being activated.

I won't love every idea or suggestion I hear (from anybody), but I love hearing people feeling something.

And moving people to engage is part and parcel of the Observer project.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Charyn

Go check the police records. The three bars on Madison in the heart of Birdtown we the scene of much violence in the 60s and 70s. The bar that was on Dowd I want to say 3/4 up the street was shut down after a very nasty night at the bar.

One of the largest drug dealer in the county held court on Plover, finally moving out in 1979.

At the same time it was much like you described, a very nice a peaceful neighborhood. If you were not in the bars, you would not know.

Months ago I had the pleasure of jumping into the way-back machine with our Mayor. We were talking about the very real biker bars in Lakewood. Not this yuppie stuff. But bars, where you would get your ass kicked just walking in wrong. The Telestar now Riverwood, Corky's the Mighty Mouse were legendary bars for trouble. On a lesser note Tasse's and what became the Hi-Fi. Newman Corners closed for trouble.

This came up when we started talking about how bad the "gangs" were back then. Between West Clifton and Warren Road were at least 5 established "gangs" the worst was The Roman Fountain Gang, which is now 5 Star Pizza. These groups were far worse than anything in town now. I know of no area of Lakewood one has to stay out of. I know of no bar in Lakewood one has to stay out of. In the old days these places were the kind of places you would cross the street and hope you were not seen.

So while I remember fondly the Birdtown where Mary Risner would feed the kids the boys brought home soup and stew, I also vividly remember the wild spots of that area and the city.

I'll dig up some names, and let's see how they react.

Thanks for the note, and adding to the discussion.

peace

[Jim O'Bryan]

DL/Ken

When they can rake the yard, they can run the city. Until then my strato-lounger remains covered in dust.

DL

As Lakewood walks the razor edge defying all predictions, I just think we should worry about one brand at a a time. But this is only my thoughts.

I have never wanted to be an Irish-American, I just want to be American.

So do we build the brand of Birdtown, or let it happen.

So the tattooed artist dressed mostly in black at the gallery opening in Little Italy is eyed by a person that thinks his color of black clothing is far superior to the other black and charcoal clothes in the room and walks up and says, "Hello where do you live?" the answer comes, "I live in the Emerald Canyon Historic District." so how does that build the brand that needs building, Lakewood?

While you grew up a child of privilege, you might not have any idea, the pain it causes the kids, and the families that were born just outside of Clifton Park. Just South of the tracks. Just east of Warren Road. It is a stigma that follows these kids through adulthood, when they feel they must over compensate for their "empty" childhood.

Jay Foran was right on this one. Lakewood needs unity now more than ever. Breaking the city apart into zones, divides the workers, and duplicates the efforts needed to do anything.

Block Watch a favorite topic. Mark and I tried twice, with funding to start block watches. Only Charyn signed on. Is this really easier block by block? Where does thee funding come from for Wayne's block watch? Or do we become Cleveland where a small pocket starts a block watch to rid their corner of hookers and drug dealers only to move it 3 blocks east or west? At least out of "their" neighborhood.

When the SWAT Teams tore up Chris Trapp's lawn and sidewalk in an effort to get to the murders in the house next door. Did I say, or would it be healthy to say, at least it is his neighborhood, and not the Emerald Canyon. Or is it healthier to think of the fallout on the city as a whole? Or for me to care.

Again I point to Mainstreet. While the city pours all their efforts into one small area, with little impact, Madison, Scenic Park, Birdtown and others suffer and are closing their doors in frustration. The LO Economic Development Plan has no boundries it ecompasses all of Lakewood, even those working out of homes.

So while you build(?) the Bridtown Area, what area of Lakewood have you just turned into the "Tenderloin?"

I am proud to live in Lakewood, last night I told everyone at the party I live in Lakewood, never once felt the need to say, "The Emerald Canyon Historic District." That name only appears when I fix my home.

Again, just my opinion. As you can tell I have been stigmatized from my youth.

.

[Kenneth Warren]

Jim:

Thank you for sharing your stigmatic vision and the wounds of your DeMoley sword.

With Ignatzio's balm, grown fresh amidst the statuary in my hood, the downtown district,

Kenneth Warren

[Dan Slife]

Master Jim,

Thank you for chopping at the soul of a youthful vision.... back to Monkey Island I go.

I would add just one qualifier: the meta-neighborhood Lakewood vision you are articulating is contingent upon the sinking administrative apparatus's ability to continue delivery "good enough for now services", as individualist homies in the Wood are not ready to shed libertarian tendencies in favor of collectivist buffering strategies. As such, I sense there may be a generational gap, between the caplitalized Boomer Homie, and the 3rd-world-ready uncaplitalized Young Bloods.

Hidden, or not so hidden, between the lines of my initial post is a paranoid sense of urgency.

As the third-world conditioning continues unabated, Lakewood city government is at risk of falling to disrepair - humpty dumpty...... not to any fault of the city, it's the country that's going to hell. We're just stuck on the same Titanic, along for the sink.

As this national vessel sinks, I don't see traditional forms of governance (whether, council-mayor or council-manager) possessing the ability to serve up the holy wafers needed to reconstruct an active/pro-active community vision... and execute on that vision.

Granted, the above forms of Government may differ in their ability to provide certain "healthy adjustments" and one type may be more prone than the other to employing consultants and other shrinks (perhaps even from Levin) in order to generate vision where the political will to advance such is lacking. Such are the strategies which ease the anxieties of differing socio-economic niches within the Wood.

I refer to the 3rd world transformation because we are returning, as civilizations always do, to a chaos similar to that from which we were born.

It's going to be at least another 100 years before mankind pushes itself to the brink of extinction, forcing the emergence of global governance and a global New Deal between the 80 and 20.

Until then, we have to continue challenging each other, as Observers of the Holler, as to the best strategies (for experimentation) to extend the Wood's shelf life long enough, with enough Homie blood lines still in tact, that we still own our ground and destiny when the next cycle of abundance and peace sets in. Were talking about the world like that that the labor activist of the early 20th century fought for. With riot cops "Swinging at the skulls of many a union man", an entire generation went months and sometimes years without pay to fight for the next generations right to abundance. Their kingdom was not of this earth. Today was about tomorrow.

In an 80/20 World we will need adjust in a way that holds the 20 and somehow manages to scrape enough resources(social/financial) to keep the 80 afloat, acculturated, non-violent, productive(or at least non-disruptive) members of the Wood.

Because our culture as a whole has been infected with neo-liberal memes of unbridled globalization, it is unlikely that the memes which inform those who aspire to city manager or mayor or most council posts will have the capacity to cope with the conditions of this 80/20 world. Most will flee at the sight of abandoned/rotting homes/buildings/streets, too many impoverished residents and increased levels of dysfunction all around. This is the third world.

They will likely have some notion of economic development as purely a function of real estate and job creation. While both are certainly necessary, they will tend to cater to the 20: gentrification and "attracting" large employers. Why? Scarce are the "large employers" supporting the working / middle class American. They're now in China, taking advantage of state sanction quasi-slave labor. High Tech, white collar... the fabled "Information Society" which has was off-shored shortly after its emergence....

Ironically, Master Jim, you now sound like a regionalist. As I propose Empowering Neighborhoods to Self Determination, you are warning of 'parochial isolation' and inter-neighborhood competition that would prevent us from working "as a team" to compete against our sub/ex-urban neighbors and Cleveland. Or, as they say at Voices and Choices, competition that prevents us from competing with cities in China and India.

I'm not suggesting inter-entity competition, simply because it is a rhetorical construct. This country is not going to hell because we've falling out of competition with other regions, cities or nations but because we've been convinced that this is the Best and Only Way. Because big business, through the channel of think-tanks and political donation have demanded it.

What I AM doing, is drilling the rhetoric of Localism down another notch, to the neighborhood. Would I then be "Bird Town Centric"? At one level, yes. In terms of my engagement with my neighbors and the social institutions we would construct we would be focused on stabilizing our community. So, whether one neighborhood ejects a crack-head who finds his way to your block is better than a city were crack-heads from freely (south of the Sonoma line, of course), is up for debate.

My long winded point, a city that has the capacity to eject crack heads requires a certain level of caplital accumulation and collectivist tendencies (whether feudal Catholic or Turquoise Shaman) that the city-wide organizing principle (i.e. city hall) has the smarts and resources necessary to look out for the best interests of every neighborhood simultaneously.

[dl meckes]

DL/Ken

When they can rake the yard, they can run the city. Until then my strato-lounger remains covered in dust.

So all are dismissed? None is worthy or capable of idea possession? Your ideas are stupid, but please push mine forward?

So do we build the brand of Birdtown, or let it happen.

It is/has happened, it will happen, it may not happen.

So the tattooed artist dressed mostly in black at the gallery opening in Little Italy is eyed by a person that thinks his color of black clothing is far superior to the other black and charcoal clothes in the room and walks up and says, "Hello where do you live?" the answer comes, "I live in the Emerald Canyon Historic District." so how does that build the brand that needs building, Lakewood?

"Where do you live?" Lakewood. "Where is Lakewood?" Insert street/district/ area. Can you stop Gold Coasters from using that term?

Lakewood is so cool, it has a little something for everybody. Isn't that part of the diversity that people give lip service to?

Breaking the city apart into zones, divides the workers, and duplicates the efforts needed to do anything.

How? If I refer to my area by a name, the refuse & recycling folks are still going to appear on Wednesday morning. The fire station is still going to appear if needed and the police will still come if I call.

Block Watch a favorite topic. Mark and I tried twice, with funding to start block watches. Only Charyn signed on. Is this really easier block by block? Where does thee funding come from for Wayne's block watch? Or do we become Cleveland where a small pocket starts a block watch to rid their corner of hookers and drug dealers only to move it 3 blocks east or west? At least out of "their" neighborhood.

And yet, block watches have started and grown. Citizens in a neighborhood, working with the city and some council members started one and they are growing it to outlying streets. I went to a meeting to find out more. They knew I wasn't from their 'hood but I was welcome to stay, listen, learn and even talk.

Would I prefer to work with the city and the LPD on a blockwatch project or with the LO? Track record & experience or none?

When the SWAT Teams tore up Chris Trapp's lawn and sidewalk in an effort to get to the murders in the house next door. Did I say, or would it be healthy to say, at least it is his neighborhood, and not the Emerald Canyon. Or is it healthier to think of the fallout on the city as a whole? Or for me to care.

This makes no sense to me because people are going to tut about a crime like that in any neighborhood, officially named or not. They might tut about the street. They're going to wonder, could it happen in my neighborhood? And there's PLENTY of NIMBYs to go around in all named and unnamed neighborhoods.

Again I point to Mainstreet. While the city pours all their efforts into one small area, with little impact, Madison, Scenic Park, Birdtown and others suffer and are closing their doors in frustration. The LO Economic Development Plan has no boundries it ecompasses all of Lakewood, even those working out of homes.

So while you build(?) the Bridtown Area, what area of Lakewood have you just turned into the "Tenderloin?"

Sometimes you get the most bang for your buck by concentrating on a block at a time. Is Mainstreet something that is ever going to make a difference? Will the LO plan (and have I missed the white paper on this?) work?

Recognition for an area named long before you or I were born (when dirt was still new) doesn't seem like such a horrible thing.

I am proud to live in Lakewood, last night I told everyone at the party I live in Lakewood, never once felt the need to say, "The Emerald Canyon Historic District." That name only appears when I fix my home.

Well that's fine. Sometimes people like a little more information and sometimes they don't.

Again, I keep hearing those divisive people saying, I live in Lakewood on the Gold Coast. Do we need to round them up and regroove 'em?

Again, just my opinion. As you can tell I have been stigmatized from my youth.

Perhaps you could use a good therapist?

[Kenneth Warren]

dl:

Let me claim a share of name blame on the "off-putting Food Security Network," which emerged from Holly Whisman's use of the term "Food Security" in an early LO piece that with her help got the CSA action going.

Papa Jimbo wanted the "Emerald Canyon Yum Yum Club," before extending his papal blessing to "the Lakewood Observer Gourmet Food Security Network." For some the entire name was "off-putting." For others the whole idea and model of a CSA were off-putting.

However, the issue is precisely "Food Security," which may well be a scary, bureaucratic and off-putting thought. But that is term used by the Feds to enfold the concept that inspired the network of CSA homies, which did not include El Papa Jimbo.

Kenneth Warren

[dl meckes]

However, the issue is precisely "Food Security," which may well be a scary, bureaucratic and off-putting thought. But that is term used by the Feds to enfold the concept that inspired the network of CSA homies, which did not include El Papa Jimbo.

Kenneth Warren

Thanks for the explanation. "Yum-Yum Club" does sound fuzzier and more welcoming. Yum-Yum might be that spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down.

As I better understood through conversation what the program was about, I felt a great deal more interest.

And if we get a decent crop of strawberries, we'll know with whom and where we may share.

[Charyn Compeau]

..

[Jim O'Bryan]

DL/Ken

When they can rake the yard, they can run the city. Until then my strato-lounger remains covered in dust.

So all are dismissed? None is worthy or capable of idea possession? Your ideas are stupid, but please push mine forward?

DL

No, it has nothing to do with ideas. Ideas flow like water through this city. It is all about when the rubber meets the road.

No one is stopping anyone from saying they are from anywhere. But do we really need more division. Every time you create another zone you bleed time off of time banks, and start duplicating efforts.

Dan take note

The size of Lakewood just does not warrant it. How many zones? How many people organizing these zones? How do zones coordinate? It is a logistical nightmare. Much wheel spinning. Wasted energy.


.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Go check the police records. The three bars on Madison in the heart of Birdtown we the scene of much violence in the 60s and 70s.

Hi Jim -

I am not quite sure what you want to accomplish with your writing. Do you want me to acknowledge that there were issues in the bars? Or that Birdtown is better now? or that it has issues then? Not being flip - really not sure h ow to read you here.

As for your statement - think of it this way... The Edwards/Bonnieview/Cohasset/Lauderdale neighborhoods are not bad or necessarily dangerous areas. But boy of boy the reports that come from... what do you call them ... the punch-palaces? I think of Birdtown (well anywhere in Lakewood now or then) the same way.

Truly Jim, after living in a few places that were really gang and drug infested "war" zones I can say with a certain amount of confidence that Lakewood, and the majority of people that have lived there whole lives here, have no idea what a bad neighborhood is really like.

It is simply something we dont have in Lakewood to the degree that it exists in other urban communities. That is one the things I like about Lakewood.
Charyn

Charyn

My point was Birdtown has improved, since the 60s. Houses are 40 years older, but the neighborhood filled with rentals flows like the river. Right now I think it has been "discovered." It used to be much wilder.


Lakewood Police closed their mini station. A Good sign.

We agree.

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

DL/Ken

When they can rake the yard, they can run the city. Until then my strato-lounger remains covered in dust.

So all are dismissed? None is worthy or capable of idea possession? Your ideas are stupid, but please push mine forward?

So do we build the brand of Birdtown, or let it happen.

It is/has happened, it will happen, it may not happen.

So the tattooed artist dressed mostly in black at the gallery opening in Little Italy is eyed by a person that thinks his color of black clothing is far superior to the other black and charcoal clothes in the room and walks up and says, "Hello where do you live?" the answer comes, "I live in the Emerald Canyon Historic District." so how does that build the brand that needs building, Lakewood?

"Where do you live?" Lakewood. "Where is Lakewood?" Insert street/district/ area. Can you stop Gold Coasters from using that term?

Lakewood is so cool, it has a little something for everybody. Isn't that part of the diversity that people give lip service to?

Breaking the city apart into zones, divides the workers, and duplicates the efforts needed to do anything.

How? If I refer to my area by a name, the refuse & recycling folks are still going to appear on Wednesday morning. The fire station is still going to appear if needed and the police will still come if I call.

Block Watch a favorite topic. Mark and I tried twice, with funding to start block watches. Only Charyn signed on. Is this really easier block by block? Where does thee funding come from for Wayne's block watch? Or do we become Cleveland where a small pocket starts a block watch to rid their corner of hookers and drug dealers only to move it 3 blocks east or west? At least out of "their" neighborhood.

And yet, block watches have started and grown. Citizens in a neighborhood, working with the city and some council members started one and they are growing it to outlying streets. I went to a meeting to find out more. They knew I wasn't from their 'hood but I was welcome to stay, listen, learn and even talk.

Would I prefer to work with the city and the LPD on a blockwatch project or with the LO? Track record & experience or none?

When the SWAT Teams tore up Chris Trapp's lawn and sidewalk in an effort to get to the murders in the house next door. Did I say, or would it be healthy to say, at least it is his neighborhood, and not the Emerald Canyon. Or is it healthier to think of the fallout on the city as a whole? Or for me to care.

This makes no sense to me because people are going to tut about a crime like that in any neighborhood, officially named or not. They might tut about the street. They're going to wonder, could it happen in my neighborhood? And there's PLENTY of NIMBYs to go around in all named and unnamed neighborhoods.

Again I point to Mainstreet. While the city pours all their efforts into one small area, with little impact, Madison, Scenic Park, Birdtown and others suffer and are closing their doors in frustration. The LO Economic Development Plan has no boundries it ecompasses all of Lakewood, even those working out of homes.

So while you build(?) the Bridtown Area, what area of Lakewood have you just turned into the "Tenderloin?"

Sometimes you get the most bang for your buck by concentrating on a block at a time. Is Mainstreet something that is ever going to make a difference? Will the LO plan (and have I missed the white paper on this?) work?

Recognition for an area named long before you or I were born (when dirt was still new) doesn't seem like such a horrible thing.

I am proud to live in Lakewood, last night I told everyone at the party I live in Lakewood, never once felt the need to say, "The Emerald Canyon Historic District." That name only appears when I fix my home.

Well that's fine. Sometimes people like a little more information and sometimes they don't.

Again, I keep hearing those divisive people saying, I live in Lakewood on the Gold Coast. Do we need to round them up and regroove 'em?

Again, just my opinion. As you can tell I have been stigmatized from my youth.

Perhaps you could use a good therapist?

DL

Please re read your responses. I think you will find yourself wrong most times with the exception, of the therapist.

Take the emotion out.

Look at your practical knowledge of the past year. The city has so many people actually willing to do something. So while energy is directed at Warren and Detroit, next month we will lose the WestEnd 5 rentals in 6 stores.

As for the plan, yes you did miss that one.

.